Participants at a function on African Women for the Energy Transition in Lagos on Friday, June 24, 2022, called for inclusion of women to make the global energy transition to low carbon fuels a success.
They also noted that green hydrogen which required renewable energy would prompt African countries in the emerging global hydrogen market especially to Europe in the near decades.
The programme was organised by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
GIZ is an international enterprise owned by the German Federal Government and operating in many fields across more than 130 countries.
The German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office is also part of the Global Hydrogen Diplomacy programme (H2 Diplo) funded by the German Foreign Office and implemented by GIZ.
The participants said reports had shown that over 18 million jobs must be created to ensure the success of the energy transition from fossil fuels to cleaner sources of energy.
They noted that while over 50 per cent of the global population were females, only 32 per cent of women were working in the renewable energy sector according to data provided by the Women in Green Hydrogen.
Ruchi Soni, Programme Manager at Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), in her goodwill message, said energy transition was an important moment for the energy sector.
She said women and youths should be in the forefront of the transition being the most impacted.
Dr Rita Okoroafor, a Postdoctoral Scholar, Stanford Centre for Carbon Storage, who gave the keynote speech, introduced the hydrogen processes and added that tapping into hydrogen had a great part to play in the energy sector.
Okoroafor said: “There’s no just transition where we do not include the voice of women.”
She further urged African women to take advantage of opportunities in the academia while understanding the business and commercial activities of the global energy transition.
During a panel session, Ms Gina Lagunes, Head, German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office, said it was important to look into hydrogen now for global decarbonisation.
Lagunes said the demand for fossil fuel would eventually reduce and it was important for Nigeria to diversify its energy export.
“We have been talking about hydrogen for a long time. It has however become important now because around the world now, green hydrogen is what we need to reach the last mile of decarbonisation.
“It is important for energy importing countries to look into green hydrogen. Availability of green hydrogen will also attract investors to the country,” she said.
Ms Grace Orife, Chief Executive Officer, Adelaar Energy, also said the narrative was changing and there was need for Nigeria to exploit all available energy sources.
Orife also shared insights on commercial impact of the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas and necessary financing for the energy transition.
Jocelyn Nwaokenneya, Chief Financial Officer, Ladol, while speaking on pathways for opportunities and business in the energy transition, reflected on logistics, cargo and freight transportation and the diverse prospects for Nigeria to widen its borders.
By Mateen Badru
